After the temple was completed in Jerusalem in 957 BCE the temple needed cleaning:
“15 And they gathered their brethren, and sanctified themselves, and came, according to the commandment of the king, by the words of the Lord, to cleanse the house of the Lord.
16 And the priests went into the inner part of the house of the Lord, to cleanse it, and brought out all the uncleanness that they found in the temple of the Lord into the court of the house of the Lord. And the Levites took it, to carry it out abroad into the brook Kidron. 2 Chronicles 29:15-16 King James Version
Under the Old Covenant, sin was paid for through the blood sacrifices of animals in the temple of God.
“4 Now the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Speak to the children of Israel, saying: ‘If a person sins [a]unintentionally against any of the commandments of the Lord in anything which ought not to be done, and does any of them, 3 if the anointed priest sins, bringing guilt on the people, then let him offer to the Lord for his sin which he has sinned a young bull without blemish as a sin offering.” Leviticus 4:1-3 New King James Version
At some point the Day of Atonement became a time to forgive all sin. (Leviticus 16:19-20.)
Today Christ followers, under the New Covenant, are the temple of God. Jesus’ blood cleanses us from sin:
“16 Do you not know that you are a [a]temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 17 If any man destroys the [b]temple of God, God will destroy him, for the [c]temple of God is holy, and [d]that is what you are.” 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 New American Standard Bible 1995
As Christ followers we are expected to walk in righteousness, truth, and holiness, keeping the temple clean. But being human, we fail. Sometimes intentionally through willfulness, and sometimes unintentionally.
“7 But if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous, so that He will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.” 1 John 1:7-10 New American Standard Bible
Jesus’ blood is the final and only atonement for sin. The disciples recognized this and were faithful in fulfilling what Jesus had commissioned them to do. They preached the Kingdom of God, and salvation provided through Jesus’ blood. The truth of the kingdom was so meaningful to them that they were willing to serve unto death.
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